Hey everyone! I'm in Ontario and this winter has been brutal. We just bought a house two months ago that's a bit older, so I'm guessing the attic insulation isn't the greatest. Ice dams have formed and now we're dealing with water leaking into our home, specifically from the spare bedrooms down to the living room ceiling. Plus, we have some pipes in the basement dripping water. I'm looking for any advice or experiences on what to do next!
3 Answers
One thing you could try is using roof pucks or maybe check out some YouTube videos on the "calcium chloride in a sock" trick. The idea is to place some ice melt above the ice dam. You don’t want to fully melt it; just make a channel for the water behind the dam to drain out. It might be tricky, so consider using a rope to help you drop it in place if you can't get up there easily.
Definitely use a roof rake to clear out at least 2-4 feet from the gutter. It’ll help prevent ice buildup. Also, consider using roof pucks or nylon bags filled with salt to give the water a way to escape. Just make sure to avoid regular rock salt—opt for magnesium or calcium chloride instead, as they won’t damage your roof.
First things first, you need to deal with those ice dams quickly! They can cause a lot of damage if left unchecked.